Plum gets a new executive chef in Incanto vet Manfred Wrembel

Daniel Patterson opened Plum a little over two years ago in Oakland’s Uptown neighborhood. Now he’s got a new chef.

Starting today, Manfred Wrembel is running the kitchen as the new executive chef of Plum and adjacent Plum Bar. For the last six-plus years, Wrembel has been cooking at Incanto, most recently as Chris Cosentino’s chef de cuisine and right-hand man.

“He matured a lot at Incanto. He’s ready to run his place,” says Patterson of his new chef.

There will also be changes surrounding the menu format at Plum. The new menu — in effect tonight — will switch to a more traditional format, with appetizers, entrees and desserts. Plum Bar will keep the course (and open for lunch in December).

“We changed the format a little bit,” says Patterson of Plum, noting that some diners had a hard time deciphering the menu, and this was an opportune time to switch things up.

“This is a change driven by Manfred. He’s a really good guy, extremely talented and we’re super excited to have him.”

“[Plum is] meant to be a neighborhood restaurant. Simple but not simplistic; recognizable but still with moments of interest. Delicious and interesting — but still accessible food. That was the note that Manfred hit that I really liked.”